Andrew Lih discusses teaching visual storytelling and the BBC 5-shot method. The 5-shot method sequences shots in a specific order - closeup of hands, closeup of face, wide shot, over the shoulder shot, and unusual angle shot. This provides structure and ensures usable b-roll. Lih finds the 5-shot method helps students learn skills faster and produce professional-style videos. While not a rigid formula, it provides a baseline for shooting sequences and frees up mental space for story decisions. Lih has implemented the 5-shot method successfully in his multimedia classes at USC.

1. Teaching Visual Storytelling: The
five‐shot method and beyond
October 28, 2011 Andrew Lih
Journalism Interactive http://andrewlih.com
Teach‐a‐Thon Twitter: Fuzheado
Email:alih@usc.edu
Associate professor
University of Southern California
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

2. Why is teaching and learning
video so hard?

3. Ten years of training journalists
and students: video storytelling
is the toughest thing to teach

4. Problems
Uncle Murray video
Bad framing
Unusable pans/moves
Not enough closeups
No clear concept for each shot
(Bad audio too)

5. Why?
Multitasking
Complexity of technology
Intrusiveness
Slow feedback loop in
shooting/editing

6. Low Face‐to‐face
Instruction
Story research/ Shooting Editing/
development Recutting

7. Reading/writing closely linked
Watching and creating video is not
Usually more art than science
Need more science

8. BBC 5 Shot method
Pioneered by Michael
Rosenblum, NYT Television, NY1,
BBC, CurrentTV

9. Five Shot method
Closeup on hands
Closeup on face
Wide shot
Over the shoulder
Unusual/side shot

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12. Five Shot basics
Start with best shot
Get audience to ask questions
Hold the shot: no pans, zooms,
moves

13. Why it works
Sequence always cuts together
Usable B‐roll all the time
Mystery draws viewers in

14. Closeup on hands
!
Closeup on face
!
Wide shot
!
Over the shoulder
!
Unusual/side shot
!
14

15. Adam Westbrook
“What’s the difference between
amateurs and professionals?
Pros shoot sequences.”
http://adamwestbrook.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/10‐common‐video‐storytelling‐mistakes‐and‐how‐to‐avoid‐them‐adam‐westbrook‐online‐video/

16. Why it’s useful
Compels journalist to get close
Provides known game plan
Frees up time for story decision making
Web video demands closeups

17. Additional shots
Interview
Reveal shots
Establishing shot
Tracking shot

18. Evaluation
USC masters and undergrad
multimedia classes
Use any/all cameras
Students gain good habits faster
Usable editable footage
Compatible with day‐of‐air video?

19. Evaluation
Not meant to be rigid formula
Know when to break rules
Under stress, fall back on basic
training:
closeups, faces, holding shots,
line of action

20. Evaluation
Can create professional style video
with iPhone, P&S camera

21. Future Possibilities
Build the 5 shot method into device
e-workbook Module: BBC 5 Shot
2
Closeup on REC
face
WHO is doing it?
• Frame with rule of thirds
• Give “talk space” in front of eyes/nose.
• Can cut off top of head, but not the
chin.
• SHOW TWO EYES!
Analyze
FRAMING
EYES
NOSEROOM
1 2 3 4 5
Hands Face Wide OTS Unusual

22. Materials
Field checklists
http://andrewlih.com/blog

23. Teaching Visual Storytelling: The
five‐shot method and beyond
October 28, 2011 Andrew Lih
Journalism Interactive http://andrewlih.com
Teach‐a‐Thon Twitter: Fuzheado
Email:alih@usc.edu
Associate professor
University of Southern California
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism